Risk Factors of Meert et al for Blood Transfusion in a Pediatric Patient Undergoing Spinal Fusion Surgery

 

Age range: 1 to 20 years

 

Parameters:

(1) neuromuscular disease

(2) extent of spinal fusion

(3) body weight

 

Parameter	Finding	Points
neuromuscular disease	absent	0
	present	1
number of vertebrae fused	few	0
	multiple	1
body weight	intermediate to high	0
	low	1

 

where:

• Low body weight may be due to younger age or being underweight for age.

 

number of risk factors for blood transfusion =

= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum number of risk factors: 0

• maximum number of risk factors: 3

• The risk of requiring a blood transfusion increases with the number of risk factors present.

• Autologous blood can be collected preoperatively, but many of the patients at risk are poor candidates for this practice.